Apparatus for building roadways and the like



Oct. 24, 1961 D. T. HELTZEL ET AL 3,

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TORS 95 00mm THELTZEL ,9 MICHAEL l. Hun/s Q ATTORNEY Oct. 24, 1961 D. T. HELTZEL ETAL 3,005,387

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE 6 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 mmm M NTD R m A T mu mm DM LLL.

Oct. 24, 1961 D. 'r. HELTZEL EI'AL 3,005,387

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 F m h a? W? W MUM w N A $22G. 455.32 T. L Ai mJ km 5 MWZJ &3 4m 6m M 6m 6w A m 9 fi aw x A g m A. 4 \I l ,&m m fi R Oct. 24, 1961 D. T. HELTZEL ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 a 5 R Y m a M m N E R E L D O .hl uk u I. H A T1 T u m .EZKQZ w H m m 0 m M Oct. 24, 1961 D. T. HELTZEL ET AL 3,005,387

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26, 1954 6 Shees-Sheet 5 DONALD I HELTZEL 6$ Mama I. Hap/s IN V EN TORS b APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 26, 1954 Oct. 24, 1961 D. T. HELTZEL ET AL 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS n 5 MH TILL n mm Om M ATTORNEY United States 3,005,387 APPARATUS FOR BUILDING ROADWAYS AND THE LIKE Donald T. Heltzel and Michael I. Hudis, Warren, Ohio,

assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Heltzel Steel Form & Iron ('Jompauny, Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 26, 1954, Ser. No. 452,314 1 Claim. (Cl. 94-45) atent road transversely so that it 'is higher in the center than at the sides. However, this construction has not been entirely satisfactory since the curvature at the center of the road was often so slight that drainage was incomplete.

In the interest of providing improved drainage and for other reasons, it has been proposed that the upper surface of the road be formed to a peaked, transverse profile wherein one portion of the upper surface slopes upwardly from one side of the road toward the center thereof and another portion of the upper surface slopes upwardly from the other side of the road toward the center, such portions intersecting at a point intermediate the sides of the road to form the peak. This peaked, transversely profiled road surface has proven satisfactory from a drainage standpoint; however, in practice, it has been very difficult and expensive to accomplish this desirable result.

By way of example, when constructing concrete roads it has been customary to pour a wet concrete mixture along the intended roadway and to thereafter employ finishing machines which transversely span the intended roadway and which travel longitudinally therealong to spread the wet concrete and form the upper surface thereof to the desired transverse profile. However, it has been impractical to employ conventionallfinishing machines in the usual manner to form the upper surface ofthe road to a peaked, transverse profile.

One way in which the desired profile may be achieved is by pouring one half of the road and thereafter employing a conventional finishing'machine to so form the upper surface that it slopes downwardly from one side to the other. After this half of the road hardens, the other half is poured adjacent the one side and then finished in the same manner so that the upper surface slopes upwardly to meet the previously formed half of the'road. This procedure produces a road having the desired peaked, transverse profile; however, since the'road halves are not finished simultaneously, junction of the road halves at the peak is often rough and uneven. Additionally, the necessity of pouring and finishing only one half of the road at one time greatly increases the costs of construction.

Our invention includes practical and economical means and methods for forming the upper surface of a roadway to an accurate, peaked, transverse profile. Furthermore, our invention also permits the entire width of the roadway to be poured and finished at one time, with resultant savings in cost. These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and from the drawings appended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and ice forming a part of this application there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which our invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of concrete finishing apparatus embodying our invention,

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view generally cor-responding to the line 44 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view generally corresponding to the line 55 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded perspective View of certain details, and

FIGURES 7 and 8 are enlarged, fragmentary, gen erally diagrammatic views of portions of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the present invention is herein illustrated in combination with a concrete distributing, or finishing, machine. While machines of this general type are old in the art, it is believed that a brief description of their use in road building will be advantageous in comprehending the instant invention.

The usual practice followed in building concrete roadways and the like is to prepare a suitable roadbed bounded by spaced-apart forms which extend longitudinally of the intended road and which define the sides thereof. The forms usually extend upwardly from the roadbed a distance equal to the desired thickness of the road at its sides and the forms are usually held in position by means of stakes which are driven through apertures in the forms and into the roadbed.

The space between the forms is adapted to be filled with a suitable mixture of cement, sand, aggregate, water and the like and a finishing machine, adapted to run along on the tops of the forms, distributes the mixture evenly between the forms and contours the upper surface of the mixture so that the'road will have the desired transverse profile.

As will become clear, the present invention is shown and described in combination with certain features of well-known finishing machines; however, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to such combination since the invention is capable of use with apparatus other than concrete finishers.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2, there is illustrated concrete finishing apparatus which presently comprises a rectangular main frame 10 which rotatably supports a plurality of wheels 11. These wheels are engageable with and are adapted to roll along the usual spaced-apart road forms 12 which define the width of the intended road.

Also carried by the main frame of the apparatus is a suitable source of motive power which may be a gasoline engine 13. Engine 13 is adapted to drive the wheels 11 by means of. shafts 14, chains 15 and suitable sprockets. As will be understood, other necessary mechanisms such as the usual clutches, transmissions and the like will be interposed in the drive train between the engine 13 and the Wheels 11. v

Positioned on one side of the main frame 10 is a front screed, or strike-off member, 18' for a purpose to be shown. Also, positioned on the other side of main frame 10 is a rear screed 19. Since these screeds are similar, only one will be described in detail; however, since each screed is supported somewhat differently, appropriate portions of the construction will be described in turn.

As most clearly shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, front screed 18 comprises a pair of screed members 18a and 18b normally positioned in generally end-to-end relation, each member being generally square in cross section and each preferably being formed of two channellike members 202 and 21 welded or otherwise secured together to provide a unitary assembly. The adjoining ends of members 18a, 18b are of notch-like formation, as seen at 22 and 23, respectively (see particularly FIG- URE 6), so that such ends are complementary with each other for a purpose to be disclosed.

Respective adjoining end portions of each screed member 18a, 18b are open at the top and each has an L-shaped member 24 welded or oherwise secured thereto adjacent such end portions. Each member 24 has one leg 25 secured to its respective screed member and another leg 26 which extends longitudinally in a direction toward the adjoining end portion of its screed member. It should be pointed out that the undersurface 27 of each leg 26 and the undersurface of channel member 21 of respective screed members are parallel.

Screed members 18a, 18b are adapted to be positioned in generally end-to-end relation wherein the notched-out portions 22, 23 interfit with each other and wherein the legs 26 of respective l -shaped members 24 are in side-by-side relation. Means are provided for bridging the gap between the adjoining ends of the members 18a, 18b and for connecting the members together; and, such means presently comprises a pair of plates 28- and 29 which are disposed on opposite Sides of the screed members, as shown, and pivotally secured in position by means of pins 30 which pass through aligned apertures formed in the plates and in respective screed members.

The lapped notched-out portions of screed members 18a, 1812 are adapted to be supported by the main frame of the apparatus by means of a roller 31 which is grooved to receive and laterally restrain both legs 26 of respective members 24; and, as best shown in FIGURE 3, roller 31 is rotatably secured to a stub shaft 32 which is aflixed to a slide bar 33. Slide bar 33 is vertically reciprocable within a slideway 34 carried by a bracket structure 35 which is welded or otherwise secured to the main frame 10.

Means are. provided for selectively raising and lowering the slide bar 33 in accordance with requirements; and, as best shown in FIGURE 4, a shaft 36 is journaled in a lug 37 which is welded to the bracket structure 35. The lower portion of shaft 36 is threaded and such lower portion. passes through a complementarily threaded aperture in a lug 38 which is Welded to slide bar 33. The upper end of shaft 36 has a gear 39- secured thereto and this gear meshes with a gear 40 which is secured to a shaft 41 rotatably carried by a journal box 42 carried by bracket structure 35. Shaft 41 angles upwardly toward the center of the machine and ter-minates in a crank 142 which is positioned within easy reach ofthe operator who usually rides upon the machine during operation thereof.

When crank 142 is rotated by the operator, shaft 36 will be rotated and this will eifect raising or lowering of slide bar 33 and consequent raising or lowering of the adjoining notched-out portions of screed members 18a, 18b.

Any suitable means may be provided for indicating to the operator the position of the screed members; for example a bar 43 having suitable indicia thereon may be carried by the bracket structure 35 and a bar 44 having a pointer 45 may be carried by the slide bar- 33.

During normal operation and as hereinbefore described, the adjoining notched-out portions of screed members 18a, 18b are supported by roller 31:; and, in the pres ent embodiment, the opposite free. ends of the screed members are adaptedto rest upon and to be supported y pe t prms ee FIGU S 7 an These ends-of; the screed members have winged portions cu e l t e 1 e UR r h purpose o preventing the concrete mixture, which normally piles 4 up in front of the screed during operation, from escaping over the top of or outwardly from the forms. Additionally, each screed member 18a, 18b has a plate 47 secured to the top of the forward face thereof to prevent the mixture of concrete from piling up over the top of the screed members.

In order to push the screed members 18a, 18b longitudinally of the intended roadway and against the resistance of the piled-up concrete mixture, a plurality of rollers are employed. As shown in FIGURE 3, bracket structure 35 has a pair of vertically aligned, spacedapart ears 48 secured thereto directly rearward of the lapped notched-out portions of the screed members and a pin 49 extends through aligned apertures formed in the ears. A roller 50 is rotatably carried between the ears 48 by the pin 49 and this roller engages plate 29 to back up the adjoining portions of the screed members against the pushing force.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, a pair of vertically spaced cars 51 are secured to and positioned inwardly of the outer end of each screed member and a pin 52 extends through aligned apertures formed in the ears. A roller 53 is rotatably carried between the ears 51 by the pin 52, this roller engaging a thrust, plate 54, which is welded or otherwise secured to the frame 10, to back up the end portions of the screed members against the pushing force. As best seen in FIGURE 2, a U-shaped strap 55 is secured to each thrust plate 54, the bight of strap 55 holding the outer ends of the screed members in position even though the machine is moved down the forms 12 in a reverse direction.

Means are provided for reciprocating the screed members crosswise of the intended roadway along a path coincident with respective road defining surfaces and such means presently comprises a shaft 56' (see especially FIGURE 1) to which a crank arm 56a is secured. One end of a rod 57 is pivotally secured to arm 56a at a point spaced radially from the axis of shaft 56 by means of a pin 56b and the other end of rod 57' is secured to screed member 18b by means of a universal joint or other suitable means.

Shaft 56 is adapted to be rotated by engine 13 through a suitable power train which may include a clutch and a transmission, rotation of shaft 56 efiecting reciprocation of screed member 1811 through the described crank and rod connection. Since plates 28 and 29 connect the screed members together, it will be understood that reciprocation of screed member 18b will also effect reciprocation of screed member 18a.

While the presently disclosed embodiment illustrates reciprocating the screed members by means of mechanical connection with the engine, it is to be. understood that means other than that shown could be employed. Fluid pressure could be alternately admitted to first. one, side of the piston and then the other to effect reciprocation of the screed members.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 wherein the screed members 18a and 18b are more or less diagrammatically shown, it will be noted that screed member 18a is supported at one end by one of the; forms, 12 and'is, supported at the other end by means off-an arm 26 ofmenrber 24 resting on roller 31. Screed member 18b is supported at one end by means of the other form 12 and its other, end is also supported by arm 26 resting on'roller 31. With roller 31 in the position illustrated, the undersurfaceof each screed member slopes upwardly: fr m a respective form :12. The under-surfaces of the screedmembets 18a, 18b intersect at a point p directly beneath the; roller 31-, this point being the peak of the intended roadway.-

When the screed members 18a, 18b are, reciprocated transversely of the intended roadway" by means of the engine'driven crank 56a, each member-will, move in. a straight, line path (see FIGURE: 8whereinthescreedmembers are shown at one extreme position in full. lines and at. the other extreme, puasition 'bg doth-ash; lines). It will be noted that the angularity of the lower surfaces of the screed members 18a, 18b will remain constant during reciprocation at that point p, the point at whichthe lower surfaces of the members intersect, will remain in alignment directly below roller 31.

Operation of the apparatus thus far described will be as follows: Assuming that the apparatus is positioned upon the forms 12 as shown and assuming that the space between the forms is filled with a suitable concrete mixture or other road building material, the operator will first adjust the height of roller 31 by means of crank 142 and, in accordance with the information imparted by pointer 45 and the indicia carried by bar 43, so that the lower surfaces of the screed members 18a, 18b intersect at the desired angle. He will then efiect driving engagement between engine 13 and shaft 56 and crank arm 56a to reciprocate the screed members in the manner hereinbefore described and he will also effect driving engagement between engine 13 and the form engaging wheels 11 whereby the machine will move along the forms in the direction indicated (FIGURES 2 and 3), during the time the screed members are reciprocated crosswise of the roadway.

As the screed members are reciprocated and moved longitudinally of the intended roadway, they will distribute the concrete mixture evenly between the forms 12 and the lower surfaces of the members will compact and iron the upper surface of the concrete mixture and form it to the desired, peaked, transverse profile.

The operator may readily observe the amount of concrete in advance of the screeds 18a, 18b from his position on the apparatus. When the amount of concrete diminishes to a predeterminable amount, about two or three inches, for example, the operator halts forward movement of the apparatus. The screed members 18a, 18b may be lifted from the roadway in a manner to be described and the apparatus backed up to permit a fresh charge of concrete to be deposited in advance of the screed members and in partly overlying relation to the terminal edge of the roadway just finished to provide for smooth continuity of the roadway.

Sometimes it is advantageous to lift the screed members from the roadway following finishing operation of a portion of the concrete and reverse the direction of movement of the apparatus along the forms 12 a selected amount and make another pass over such concrete portion to insure smoothness and filling of any voids.

It is an important feature of the present invention that the height of the peak formed in the intended road may be quickly adjusted without interrupting the progress of the machine along the forms. This is done by turning the crank 142 which will change the angularity of the lower surfaces of the screed members. The importance ofthis features will readily become apparent when it is pointed out that the upper surface of the road must be gradually flattened out as an intersection or a curve is approached and the upper surface gradually returned to its normal peaked contour after the intersection or curve has been passed.

Any suitable means may be employed to raise the screed members 18a, 18b bodily when it is desired to move the machine in reverse or to transport the machine from one site to another. In the present embodiment, an elongated shaft 58 is positioned transversely of the apparatus and is rotatably carried by brackets 59 which are secured to the frame 10. Shaft 58 is spaced above screed members 18a, 18b and extends longitudinal-1y thereof and is provided with a plurality of drums 60 upon which chains 61 are adapted to be wound.

Each chain 61 terminates in a pulley 62 (see FIGURE 5) which is engageable under respective bars 63 secured to respective screed members. An arm 64 is secured to shaft 58 and extends radially therefrom, the free end of this arm being pivotally secured to one end of a fluid cylinder 65 which is carried by the main frame 10.

When fluid under pressure is admitted to cylinder 65, shaft 58 will be rotated in a direction to wind chains 61 upon their respective drums 60 to-thereupon bodily raise the screed members 18a, 1812. Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that when the screed members are raised by the chains 61, legs 26 of members 24 of the respective screed members will enter a slot 66 provided between a portion'defining the slideway 34 and an L-shaped lug 67 secured to. such portion. This will hold the screed members in position and prevent them from swaying as they are suspended by the chains 61.

As previously mentioned, in addition to front screed 18 formed of members 18a, 18b, the presently disclosed machine is provided with a rear screed formed of members 19a, 19b. Screed members 19a, 19b are similar in all respects to screed members 18a, 18b. Moreover, the parts associated with screed members 19a, 19b are similar to those hereinbefore described. Accordingly, similar parts will be identified with the same reference numerals but the suffix r added.

Since the rear screed members 19a, 19b are also adapted to be pushed against the resistance of the concrete mixture and since these members are positioned at the rear of the machine, means are provided to support the thrust rollers 50r, 53r at the rear of the screed members.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, bracket structure 35r is similar to bracket structure 35 in that it supports the adjoining lapped portions of its associated screed members. However, bracket structure 35r is generally U- shaped and has a portion 68 which rotatably carries thrust roller 50r in position to back up the adjoining portions of screed members 19a, 1% against the pushing force.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, U-shaped brackets 69 are secured to the main frame 10 adjacent the outer ends of the rear screed members 19a, 19b. Each bracket 69 has a leg 70 to which respective thrust plates 54r and respective straps 551' are secured. The outer end of each screed member 19a, 19b rotatably carried a thrust roller 43r, each thrust roller being engageable with a respective plate 54r to back up the outer ends of these screed members against the pushing force. Shaft 58r (similar to shaft 58) is rotatably carried by brackets 69; and, although not shown, means similar to that employed with shaft 58 may be employed to rotate shaft 58r and raise the rear screed members 19a, 1%.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that we have accomplished at least the principal object of our invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advatnages not herein specifically described, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that our invention is not limited thereto.

We claim:

Apparatus for forming the upper surface of a roadway and the like to a peaked, transverse profile, comprising screed means extending transversely of the intended roadway and including a pair of screed members in generally end-to-end relation, the adjoining end portions of said members being formed to interfit one with the other to provide a lapped joint, screed support guides carried by the interfitting ends of said screeds, each screed member having a road defining surface corresponding to the desired transverse configuration of a portion of the upper surface of the intended roadway, roller means positioned above the peak of the intended roadway and supporting the screed support guides of the lapped end portions of said screed members, link means pivotally connecting said lapped end portions to permit relative angular movement and reciprocation of said screed members in unison, the other ends of said screed members adapted to be freely suspended to rest on the side forms so that respective road defining surfaces thereof form an angle with each other, the apex of such angle coinciding with the peak of .7 8 the intended roadway, means for reciprocating said screed fa e of Said Screed e b s to thereby y the heig t members transversely of the intended roadway each along 01. the peak formed in the upp r surface of the roadw ya path coincident with its road defining surface, means for moving said screed means longitudinally of the in- References Cited in the file of this patent tended roadway to. spread road surfacing material there- 5 alongin peaked, transverse profile, and means for shifting UNITED STATES PATENTS said roller means toward and away from the intended 1,619,083 Maxon Mar. 1, 1927 roadway to vary the angularity of the. mad defining su 2,351,593 Barber Tune 20, 1944 

